Autism Awareness Day

[annaswirls]

Awesome! Thanks!

There's a woman in Maine you need to know about. Twenty-some years ago she realized that people with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders and other mental health issues were being treated inhumanely by being institutionalized. And from what I know of life there, from people I worked with who had taught there, it really was inhumane. Anyway she started a local grassroots movement with parents and other interested citizens, some churches, local charities, etc., to begin pulling people out of institutions and into supervised group homes within the communities. Her efforts became the first of many such agencies who oversee this in Maine. Everyone is teachable (as you know) to some degree, and people work or participate in day training programs to the extent they can. People are taught to be as independent as possible. The various agencies have community events to get people together, they do local and special olympics, lots of stuff.

Anywho, she really is a wonderful woman who has accomplished what many insisted was impossible. I'll pm you her name. You should write to her. She's a very good-hearted approachable woman.

 

[champagne1982]

It's not often I go a day without remembering my friends Rosie and Meagan. I also know a mom whose oldest son has many developmental disabilities, I'm not sure if he's autistic or not but she shares some of his biggest smile stories frequently. It's a joy to have that in my life.

I love these folks, how can you not? Their nonjudmental acceptance of others, even in the throes of so much mental and physical anguish, should serve as a model to lesser mortals. Each of us is a treasure and we all need such beautiful gems in our lives.

 

[Xelebes]

Currently undergoing testing for it. Screwed up the test by going catatonic in one of the exercises in the test - not good. Will finish it someday later.

 

[UnderYourSpell]

question and please don't take this the wrong way
Do you children know they are 'different'? That was one of the hardest parts the knowing and not being able to do anything about it. My 'difference' wasn't as I said in the learning capabilties but the social side not being able to communicate properly with other people sort of looking through a window and never finding the door to get in

 

[WickedEve]

I wasn't slow in school in fact the complete opposite I was far too clever for a little country school room. I could read before I was 5, books were my refuge all I ever did was hide myself away and read read read anything and everything I could lay my hands on. I found out early on that other kids don't like the brainy ones especially the weak and puny ones with no skills for fighting back. I was the first kid in that school to pass the exam called the 11plus which meant I was eligible to go College when I was 12. I've had counselling and that left me worse off than I was before oh yes and I was forced to see a phsychiatrist in school when I made the stupid mistake of telling and my mother denied it and branded me a liar and not right in the head. I never told anyone again till I was in my 30s

Oh, I know you're not slow! I was talking about some of the kids from school. Slow is an awful word to use for anyone.

 

[annaswirls]

I am not sure if my personal kid knows or cares that he is different. Most of his friends are different too, so he has them to hang out with and be goofy with. He has not yet expressed frustration like my best friend's son who was opening his mouth and pointing in saying "My brain is broken and I can't fix it!" and just crying and crying uncontrollably. My kid is really happy, laid back, things don't much stress him out. I am waiting for the teen years. Apparently that is when the angst sets in for autistic folks too.

I know a lot of aspergers folks sound like what you describe. I have two friends with asperbergers type kids. Super duper smart! Can do math like a whiz unless i it is phrased in some way that you would have to interpret the social context of the situation in the word problem....I think the only thing you can really do is embrace your differences, to be proud of them, reject the ideals that you will not fit and accept yourself.

Least that is how we do it in our house.

My middle son is really really smart, kind of crazy smart smart (not bragging, he is a pain in the frackin' ass) but he has trouble understanding things, social things-- which is especially hard for him, I think, because he is so used to understanding things without half trying. He gets sad thinks there is something wrong with him. Sometimes I think he is kidding but he just does not get it sometimes. Maybe it is just being 7. Who knows. I don't know what a normal kid is like.


I know the feeling to which you refer. I like how you described it. I had the same experience in my childhood. Even in the middle of a Rockwellesque Christmas with everything that is supposed to make a kid happy, I kind of felt detached a bit, as you describe-- through a window.

I think that many people feel this way, actually. They just don't realize that we are all out here trying to find a way in.

question and please don't take this the wrong way
Do you children know they are 'different'? That was one of the hardest parts the knowing and not being able to do anything about it. My 'difference' wasn't as I said in the learning capabilties but the social side not being able to communicate properly with other people sort of looking through a window and never finding the door to get in

 

[annaswirls]

Oh, I know you're not slow! I was talking about some of the kids from school. Slow is an awful word to use for anyone.

I use it to describe myself all the time!

usually after an apology.

folks are kind and patient down here specially.

 

[swag_man]

Anna. Thank you for this thread.

and remind me that I am pretty sure adopting special needs kids is in my future.

oy vey

talk me out of it quickly!

I have 2 children, both adopted and my boys now considered to be 'special needs'. My 15yo heavily Aspergers and my 12yo with Type 1 Diabetes.

The open adoption program here in Victoria (Australia) is very advanced, and so we have regular contact interaction with the birth mothers - on a social basis.

And whilst my 15yo is considered (by one of the top Aspergers specialists in the country) to be in his top 5 - and while not formally diagnosing me states i fall fairly heavily on the spectrum - and we have many challenges.

One of my business partners is havily Aspy (but a genius) so I need to manage it at home and work.

My son is in a mainstream private school, but with a modified program to reduce stress. He is either at the top of the class - or failing, depending upon whether he likes the teacher or if it is a favourite subject.

Now an inch smaller than my 6', but about 20% heavier, his outbursts at home are also a struggle, particulalry as he wants to be 'in control' at school - and lets it all out at home, sometimes violently.

[Have just come back from a 5 day camp with my youngest son, as the school could not deal with the risk of a diabetic coma whilst out on a canoing expedition.]

But then we do these things for our kids, adopted or not.

I feel for you all, and am grateful for those who have the time and energy to put back into the community.

 

[annaswirls]

Currently undergoing testing for it. Screwed up the test by going catatonic in one of the exercises in the test - not good. Will finish it someday later.

You are undergoing a test for autism? Which one? There are some surveys online, I think.

Best wishes!

 

[annaswirls]

Your boys sound cool, swag_man, and you are awesome for taking them in. I see it in my future.... my first two were very close together, and then a seven year break before number 3. I think we should adopt a kid closer to the baby's age, a little older.


hmmm

He is either at the top of the class - or failing,

ah ha!!! Perfect!

He sounds like he might be a big ODD as well? My middle boy definitely is. Textbook almost. But it is not about letters and labels, I have to remember that, they are who they are and we just love them, right?

Take care and thanks for stopping in with your inspirational post!

Anna. Thank you for this thread.



I have 2 children, both adopted and my boys now considered to be 'special needs'. My 15yo heavily Aspergers and my 12yo with Type 1 Diabetes.

The open adoption program here in Victoria (Australia) is very advanced, and so we have regular contact interaction with the birth mothers - on a social basis.

And whilst my 15yo is considered (by one of the top Aspergers specialists in the country) to be in his top 5 - and while not formally diagnosing me states i fall fairly heavily on the spectrum - and we have many challenges.

One of my business partners is havily Aspy (but a genius) so I need to manage it at home and work.

My son is in a mainstream private school, but with a modified program to reduce stress. He is either at the top of the class - or failing, depending upon whether he likes the teacher or if it is a favourite subject.

Now an inch smaller than my 6', but about 20% heavier, his outbursts at home are also a struggle, particulalry as he wants to be 'in control' at school - and lets it all out at home, sometimes violently.

[Have just come back from a 5 day camp with my youngest son, as the school could not deal with the risk of a diabetic coma whilst out on a canoing expedition.]

But then we do these things for our kids, adopted or not.

I feel for you all, and am grateful for those who have the time and energy to put back into the community.

 

[UnderYourSpell]

I just did this test scored over 32

 

[annaswirls]

I just did this test scored over 32

Interesting! I got a 25. Last time I did one of these I came out on the border.

 

[EroticOrogeny]

Interesting! I got a 25. Last time I did one of these I came out on the border.

I got 32. Looked up autism in wikipedia and can see some aspects that correlate with me. More introverted than most, I think. Sometimes feel I have no idea what people are talking about, and not due to complexity of the subject matter. One thing I've wondered about is some sort of auditory/neural phenomenon - I often have trouble hearing the lyrics to a song, even when the musical accompanyment is not powerful. Visual pereption seems highly varied, sometimes seeing all the trees while at others not noticeing that the forest is gone.

 

[UnderYourSpell]

I lip read there is nothing wrong with my hearing in fact it is very good and when I was in the WRAF they used to call me Radar! but if I can't see a persons lips I find it hard to understand

 

[Xelebes]

You are undergoing a test for autism? Which one? There are some surveys online, I think.

Best wishes!

Neuropsychology tests. I did the first half of the battery of tests but ran into complications (catatonia rocks!) so I have the other half to do later. This is for an official diagnosis.

 

[EroticOrogeny]

I heard this on NPR this morning about autism

 

[UnderYourSpell]

I don't know if you ever watch Americas Next Top Model but they had a girl on there with Aspergers, she was finding it difficult to interact with the other girls at first and was quite ungainly in her movements at times but she did really well. I was rooting for her all the way!

 

[Nightfreak]

I just saw this post today my 3 year old daughter has autism. The doctor put her in the Mild / Moderate range. She is currently going to school right now with other Autistic children around her age. Just a few months ago I was so in denial about it but have come to grips with it and doing everything in my power for her.

 

[annaswirls]

I heard this on NPR this morning about autism

Interesting! My two younger sons were both in studies for siblings of autistic kids, but it is true that it is difficult to get parents to get their autistic kids in for studies, for obvious reasons! This is a great tool. I often wondered during the hours of interviews by dozens of doctors, what is happening to all of this data? It will set in his file like the thousands of others, with information waiting to be correlated....

I will have to register. Although stuff like that still makes me nervous-- privacy?

 

[annaswirls]

I don't know if you ever watch Americas Next Top Model but they had a girl on there with Aspergers, she was finding it difficult to interact with the other girls at first and was quite ungainly in her movements at times but she did really well. I was rooting for her all the way!

I watched the last season, but missed this one -- I heard about her though!

 

[annaswirls]

It's not often I go a day without remembering my friends Rosie and Meagan. I also know a mom whose oldest son has many developmental disabilities, I'm not sure if he's autistic or not but she shares some of his biggest smile stories frequently. It's a joy to have that in my life.

I love these folks, how can you not? Their nonjudmental acceptance of others, even in the throes of so much mental and physical anguish, should serve as a model to lesser mortals. Each of us is a treasure and we all need such beautiful gems in our lives.

wow, I wish all of the ladies in the grocery store were so inclined I cannot tell you the number of dirty looks we have gotten over the years! I do not mind the stares, that is human nature to observe and learn, but the tut tut and eye rolling head shaking judgmental bitches, that hurts. I try to remind myself that they just do not get it yet. They will. Just not yet.

 

[annaswirls]

Neuropsychology tests. I did the first half of the battery of tests but ran into complications (catatonia rocks!) so I have the other half to do later. This is for an official diagnosis.

Good luck! Let us know how it turns out.

 

[annaswirls]

I just saw this post today my 3 year old daughter has autism. The doctor put her in the Mild / Moderate range. She is currently going to school right now with other Autistic children around her age. Just a few months ago I was so in denial about it but have come to grips with it and doing everything in my power for her.

Wow! You got over the denial stage very quickly! Congratulations! It took me about 2.5 years

Do you have a good set of resources? Parent groups?

www.pathfindersforautism.org has a cool section for newly diagnosed, as does autism society of america. Sure beats the sleepless nights I had digging and digging through the internet and text books to find something, anything! It is amazing how much has been done. We have a long way to go, but just 10 years ago, there was virtually nothing.

Good luck and thanks for stopping by!

 

[UnderYourSpell]

Do saints have to be very very good in all aspects of their lives? I mean no cussing or writing filthy poetry? Or can one big special thing about them make them a saint? Like their humanity or the way they deal with what life has chucked at them. I mean peoplle like Anna and Eve.

 

[annaswirls]

Do saints have to be very very good in all aspects of their lives? I mean no cussing or writing filthy poetry? Or can one big special thing about them make them a saint? Like their humanity or the way they deal with what life has chucked at them. I mean peoplle like Anna and Eve.

Absolutely! I have been a saint for years. Perhaps you have heard of me, Santa Ana, patron saint of lost cell phones.



seriously, I am so far from sainthood I can't even call it on my long distance plan (and it never accepts my charges)